After over twenty years of cruising, I’ve packed everything … and left plenty behind. If somebody recommended it from their cruise packaging list, I probably offered it a shot. However not everything makes a long-term area in my suitcase. The products that make it much easier, more comfy, or conserve me a headache on board and cash in the long run.
< img width ="1200"height="628"src ="https://www.tastyitinerary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/cruise-items-that-are-worth-it.webp"alt= "Collage of cruise essentials consisting of a multiple-use YETI coffee mug, cruise cabin hanger with magnetic hook, and beach chairs with towel bands, with text overlay reading" Cruise Items That Are Worth It." "/ > Pin What I bring in some cases depends on the cruise line and the ship. Some cabins have more storage, more
outlets, or better layouts than others. However across the board, these are the cruise products I in fact think deserve purchasing and packing. I will not cruise without them. Did I miss something you never ever travel
without? Drop your go-to cruise products in the comments. 1. Magnetic Hooks Cruise cabin walls are metal, which makes magnetic hooks surprisingly useful. I utilize them to hang lanyards, hats, light-weight bags, and other items that would otherwise clutter my desk or cabinet.
Go for durable ones that can hold 100 pounds or more. I’ve even stuck one to the ceiling of the shower to hang damp items. They’re simple, flexible, and help keep the cabin a little more organized.
2. Hanging Toiletry Bag (or Over-the-Door Organizer)
Cruise bathrooms have actually limited counter area, so a hanging toiletry bag helps keep things tidy and available. I use the big BAGSMART toiletry bag, and it fits everything I require. It folds easily, zips safely, and hangs right from a hook in the restroom without taking up area.
Some cruisers prefer an over-the-door organizer, particularly when sharing a cabin with more than two people. Either option assists avoid clutter and keeps everyone’s stuff in one area.
3. Electrical/ USB Power Outlet
Cruise cabins, particularly on older ships, typically lack enough outlets. That’s why I constantly pack a cruise-approved power strip or USB charging station. Simply ensure whatever you bring is non-surge safeguarded, or it’ll be taken at embarkation.
I prefer a compact USB center that supports both USB-A and USB-C, which covers everything from phones to cam equipment. On more recent ships, I have actually often gotten away with simply the USB charging station because the cabins now consist of more outlets and USB ports. However not all do, so it’s still worth examining what’s available on your ship.Another trick
is to bring a universal travel adapter, allowing you to utilize the European outlet in the cabin as an extra US-style plug.
Important: Royal Caribbean now bans multi-plug outlets. If you’re sailing with them, a USB charging center or universal adapter is a much safer bet.
4. Towel Bands or Clips
PinTowel bands in action at CocoCay It
gets windy on the pool deck and at the beach in port, and absolutely nothing’s more irritating than your towel flying off your chair every five minutes. That’s why we always bring something to keep it in place. I prefer towel bands. They’re basic, pack flat, and get the job done. Towel clips are another option, cruisers love if you want something a little sturdier or more fun.
Either one works well on the ship and at the beach, assisting to avoid constant readjustment. 5. Collapsible Daypack or Lug I always bring a foldable daypack for coast adventures. It’s light-weight, water-resistant, and simple to pack my luggage, making it excellent for holding fundamentals like sun block, a cam, and water bottles.
For beach days, we also usually bring a collapsible tote. Since there are two people, one carries the daypack and the other brings the tote. It provides us additional area for towels, snorkel, and anything else we might need at the beach.
6. Multiple-use Coffee Mug and Water Bottle
< img width="464" height ="600"src="// www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20width='464'%20height='600'%20viewBox='0%200%20464%20600'%3E%3C/svg%3E"alt ="Hand holding a YETI coffee mug by the window on a cruise ship, with a rainy view outside. "data-src= "https://www.tastyitinerary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/yeti-coffee-mug-on-cruise.webp"/ > Pin We constantly bring our own insulated multiple-use coffee mug and water bottle
on cruises. The cups at the buffet are small, and it’s easier to fill a larger mug with coffee or a water bottle with filtered water, therefore preventing continuous trips backward and forward. Mineral water isn’t consisted of with your cruise fare unless you have a drink package, but filtered water is available at the buffet. We utilize our tumblers throughout the day, and after that we can take the water bottle off the ship on port days as
well. If you’re cruising with Virgin Voyages, this is a must. They do not sell bottled water and motivate visitors to bring their own reusable water bottles.
7. Wrinkle Release Spray
Given that irons aren’t allowed cruise cabins, I always pack a small bottle of Downy Wrinkle Release Spray. Simply spray it on, ravel your clothes, and hang them up. The wrinkles usually relax within a few minutes, and the steam from the restroom helps too.
Some cruise lines, such as Carnival, Princess, or Disney, might use self-serve utility room with irons, but schedule depends on the particular ship. If you’re planning to dress up, you can also send out products out for continuing the day of embarkation.
8. Laundry Bag
This laundry bag has actually been featuring us for over 10 years, whether we’re cruising or traveling on land. Although our Away travel suitcases included their own, we still load this one. It just works much better for us.
It folds little, takes no area in the luggage, and keeps our filthy clothes different throughout the trip. When it’s time to repack, we toss the whole bag into the travel luggage. It keeps whatever contained and makes packaging and unpacking later on so much simpler at the end of the trip.
9. Packing Cubes
I’m group packaging cubes all the method. They keep everything organized, help you fit more into your luggage, and make unpacking on the cruise ship incredibly simple. I just move the cubes directly into the drawers or shelves when we get to the cabin.
It conserves time, minimizes mess, and makes settling into the cabin method much easier.
10. Little First Aid Kit
We constantly travel with two essentials for minor health needs– a little emergency treatment package and a tablet organizer.
The emergency treatment package ought to cover the essentials, consisting of bandages, blister patches, Neosporin, hydrocortisone cream, and any other essential items for cuts, scrapes, or skin irritation. You can buy a premade one and add a couple of extras, or build your own with travel-sized materials.
The tablet organizer is filled with over-the-counter medications we have actually learned to keep on hand, such as allergic reaction medications, ibuprofen or acetaminophen, cold medications, anti-diarrheal tablets, and Dramamine. We load what we require in the past and label each section so we can grab it quickly if something shows up.
We also carry hand sanitizer and a little pack of disinfecting wipes. It’s not sure-fire, however it assists us remain ahead of prospective issues throughout the journey.
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Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main author of Tasty Itinerary. With over twenty years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time task and for herself, she’s ended up being a pro at crafting memorable tasty schedules. She’s constantly on the hunt for delicious, enjoyable travel destinations and cruise schedules. She strongly believes that life is brief and we need to maximize it, so always state yes to dessert.